Contactor



E. L. BRAZIL CONTACTOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 50, 1947 5, w a Wu 3(fI'V INVENTOR .E. L..BrazL 4171i, Tm

Patented Nov. 8, 1 949 "OFFICE 2,487,517; ICQNTACTIOIRI i Edward L.Brazil, Crows Landing, cm;

1947, Serial No. 758,120

Application June so,

11 Claims. (Cl. -200- 152) This invention is directed to, and it isl'anobject to provide, a novel switch'or'contactor operative to recurringlymake and break the circuit fora pump motor in a" liquid pumping system;the contactor being responsive to the'le'vel of'a liquid in a reservoirto which the pump'is'connested. In'certain liquid pumping systems, asfor example in milk processing plants, the liquid is fed from one sourceto a receiving reservoir and then intermittently pumped from thereservoir for subsequent handling; the pump being started each time theliquid in the reservoir reaches-a predetermined high level, and stoppedwhen the liquid is at a predetermined low level. i The present inventionthus has for another of its objects the provision of a novel float valvecontrolled contactor for the circuit of a pump motor in a liquid pumpingsystem as above; the float valve being arranged in a unique-manner tocause the contactor to close the pumpmotor actuating circuit each timethatthe high level is reached in the reservoir, and to open such circuitwhen the liquid is pumped down to the low level.

Another object of this invention is'to provide a float valve controlledjco'ntactor, as above, wherein opening of such contactor to break thecircuit and stop the pump motor is accomplished, at the correct time, bywhat may be'termed"delayed action of the float valve, and which functionwill hereinafter appear in detail.

An additional object of the instant invention is to provide a contactor,for the purpose, which includes normall spaced contact elements; thecircuit between which is adapted to be closed by liquid in thereservoir; access of such liquid to the elements being controlled by thenovel arrangement of the float valve therewith.

A further object of the invention is to provide a simple, practical andconvenient contactor which will be exceedingly effective for the purposef or which it is designed. N p k A I I H These objects are accomplishedbyrneans of such structure and relative arrangement of parts as willfully appear by a perusal of the following specification and claims.

. In the drawings: L

Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of the contactor with the floatcontrolled valve open.

but shows the valve Fig. 2 1s a similar view, closed.

Fig. 3 is an elevation of-the device assuspended in a reservoir foruse;. thereservoir being shown through the bottom 6.

an upwardly projecting stem 2. in section, and the "pumpmotorcon-trolcircuit diagrammatically. Referring nowmoreparticularly to thecharacters of reference on; the drawings, the'contactoris constructed inthemanner shown in Figs. l-and'2, and comprisesan upstanding tubularbody I fitted, at the upper end, with a dielectric head 2 removablyheld'in place by' a top retaining nut 3.

An electrode 4 is mounted in connection with the dielectric head 2and'depends therefrom'into the tubular body I in clearancerelation tothe sides thereof; the electrode terminating adjacentmbut shorter, the"lower end of said body. Above the dielectric h'ead'2 theelectr'ode 4 isformed with an "electrical connection fitting 5." The lower end of thetubular body I isnormally closed by a removable bottom 6 heldin place Webottom retaining nut'1; The bottom Bis formed, centrally thereof; with adownwardly opening tapered valve-seat 8, and a bore '9 leads from suchseat axially upwardly A tapered plug valve ill cooperates with thetapered seat "8, and includes 7 II which slidably engages in the bore 9and terminates thereabove. A cross pin |2,"through the=stem"lI above thebottom 6, permits'the tapered "plug valve II) to move vertically betweenopen and closed positions without escape from the device; 1 The bottom*6 is formed with ableed'passage l3 which-leads downwardly from the topsurface of said bottom 6 to' entry-into the tapered seat [0 intermediateits ends. With "this arrange.-

. ment liquid can flow from within the tubular body lgthrough the bleedpassage 13, and escape only when the tapered plug valve In is open, asin Fig. -1; the flow beingcontrolledby the diameter-of such bleedpassage. "When the tapered plug valve is closed, as in Fig. 2, the bleedpassage I3 is also effectively closed.

At'its lower end the tapered plug valve I0 is formed with an air bell orfloat M which depends therefrom in actuating relation'to said valve.

- Adjacent but short of its'upper end the tubular body 1 is formed witha circumferential row of spaced ports [5 of relatively small diameter.Abovethis row of ports l5 the tubular body I includes a single vent portI6.

The abovedescribed the manner shown in Fig. 3,'wherein said contactor issuspended by any suitable means, as for example abracket I! in areservoir. Hi from which .a liquid l9isto bepumpedq... s .13. 1;.The;.liquidrl 9 is .fed,.,into the reservoi s] 8, by

contactor is employedin through the medium of a main circuit 23.

means not shown, and is pumped out of said reservoir through a pipe 20connected to the reservoir adjacent the bottom thereof. A pump 2| isinterposed in the pipe 20 and is adapted to be driven by an electricmotor 22 energized main circuit 23 has a control switch 24 interposedtherein, and such switch is of relay type, including a coil '25 adaptedto control opening and closing of" the switch 24. The coil 25' works atextremely low voltage, and is interposed in a control circuit 26. Thecontrol circuit is energized by a transformer 21 interposed therein,which transformer is fed from the main circuit 23 ahead of the switch24. The control circuit includes a lead 28 attached to the electricalconnection fitting 5 of the electrode 4. The reservoir I8 is grounded,as is one side of the transformer 21, to complete the control circuit26. This control circuit 26 is initially open.

When the contactor is suspended in the reservoir I 8, the float I 4depends slightly below predetermined low level 25 for the liquid i9,while the row of ports I5 is disposed closely adjacent a predeterminedhigh level 30.

Assuming that the liquid if] in the reservoir is at the low level 29,but additional liquid is flowing into such reservoir, the contactorworks as follows to control operation of the pump 2i, which is initiallynotin operation:

As the liquid I 9 rises above the low level 29, the floatcorrespondingly rises, closing the tapered plug valve IQ ahead of theliquid level. Thus, as the liquid level rises beyond the lower end ofthe tubular body I, the valve Ill is closed and no liquid can enter saidbody.

The liquid level continues to rise in the reservoir l8 until the highlevel 38 is reached, andwhen this occurs liquid flows through the row ofports I 5, filling the. tubular body I up to such row; the vent portsure in said body.

With liquid filling the body I, the control circuit 26 is closed betweenthe electrode 4 and tubular body I; i. e. between such electrode 4 andthe grounded reservoir I8. This causes energization of the coil 25 andclosing of the relay switch 24. With switch 24 closed, the main circuit23 energizes the motor 22, with resultant operation of the pump 2 I.

The pump 2| then functions to withdraw the liquid I9 from the reservoiruntil such liquid lowers from the high; level 36 to adjacent the lowlevel 29; the float i l holding the valve Iii closed durin this period.When the liquid. I9 approaches the low level 29 the. float IA- dropsopen by gravity, opening the valve Ill and permitting the liquid withinthe tubular body I to drain out through the bleed passage I3 and theopen valve seat 8. When this occurs the control. circuit 2.6 between theelectrode 4 and tubular body I breaks, deenergizing the coil 25 andpermitting opening of the switch 24. As the switch 24 opens, motor 22and pump 2i cease operation and no further pumping takes place until thereservoir I8 is again filled to the high level 3b. The contactor thusprovides a very well timedcycling of operation of the motor driven pump2! at not too frequently recurring times; i. e. the motor can be broughtinto operation at a predetermined high level of the liquid and taken outof operation at a predetermined low level in an effective manner.Further, the described float valve arrangement, in combination with thetubular body I, provides the de1ayed-action means necessary l5preventing. any back preswhich might otherwise impair proper operationof the contactor.

The contactor while working in the liquid I9 is safe for the reason thatthe control circuit 26 works on a very lo voltage, as described, andthere is no risk to any attendent who may come in contact with thereservoir I8 or other part of the control circuit.

The electrode 4 is elongated and terminates adjacent, but short of, thebottom 6, for the following reason:

As the liquid approaches the low level and the valve I0 opens, withresultant draining of the liquid from the tubular body I through bleedpassage I3, the control circuit remains closed and does not break untilthe liquid in said tubular body breaks away from the lower end of theelectrode 4. In this manner the motor driven pump is actuated somewhatlonger than would be the case if the electrode 4 terminated closelyadjacent the row of ports I5.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that there hasbeen produced such a device as substantially fulfills the objects of theinvention, as set forth herein.

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferredconstruction of the device, still in practice such deviations from suchdetail may be resorted to as do not form a departure from. the spirit ofthe invention, as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, the following is claimed as new anduseful, and upon which Letters Patent are desired:

1. A control circuit contactor adapted to be mounted in a liquidreservoir in responsive relation to predetermined high and low levelstherein, said contactor including spaced elements initially open in thecontrol circuit, but arranged to be closed in said control circuit byliquid contact therebetween upon the liquid reaching the high level, anddelayed-action means operative to then maintain said. liquid contactbetween the elements until the liquid in the reservoir approaches saidlow level, said delayed action means including a float valve.

2. A control circuit contactor adapted to be mounted in a liquidreservoir in responsive relation to predetermined high and low levelstherein, said contactor including an upstanding, hollow body in thereservoir in position to fill with liquid when the same reaches saidhigh level, a float valve in communication with the body adjacent itslower end adapted to release liquid from the bod when the liquid in thereservoir approaches said low level, and an electrode in the body indielectric relation thereto.

3; A contactor adapted to be closed by entry of liquid thereinto andopened upon discharge of the liquid, comprising an upstanding, hollowbody, a float valve communicating'with the body at one point, the bodyhaving means for liquid entry above said point, and an electrode inthebody, in dielectric relation: thereto, below said entry means butterminating above said point.

4. A contactor adapted to be closed by entry of liquid thereinto andopened upon discharge of the liquid, comprising an upstanding,hollow'body, a float valve communicating with the body at one point, thebody having means for liquid entry above said point, and an electrode inthe body, in

dielectric relation thereto, below said entry means but terminatingabove said point; said entry means bein a circumferential row of portsin the body.

5. A contactor adapted to be closed by entry of liquid thereinto andopened upon discharge of the liquid, comprising an upstanding, hollowbody, a float valve communicating with the body at one point, the bodyhaving means for liquid entry above said point, and an electrode in thebody, in dielectric relation thereto, below said entry means butterminating above said point; said entry means being a circumferentialrow of ports in the body, said ports having a relatively small diameter.

6. A contactor adapted to be closed by entry of liquid thereinto andopened upon discharge of the liquid, comprising an upstanding, hollowbody, a bottom in the body, said bottom having a valve seat incommunication with the interior of the body, a valve cooperating with thseat and movable upward to closed position, a float below the valve andconnected thereto, the body having liquid entry means therein somedistance above the bottom, and an electrode in the body, in dielectricrelation, terminating at its lower end between the entry means and saidbottom.

7. A contactor adapted to be closed by entry of liquid thereinto andopened upon discharge of the liquid, comprising an upstanding, hollowbody, a bottom in the body, said bottom havin a valve seat incommunication with the interior of the body, a valve cooperating withthe seat and movable upward to closed position, a float below the valveand connected thereto, the body having liquid entry means therein somedistance above the bottom, and an electrode in the body, in dielectricrelation, terminating at its lower end between the entry means and saidbottom; the valve seat and valve being tapered, and a bleed passage inthe bottom thereof extending between its top surface and a point on thevalve seat intermediate its ends.

8. A contactor adapted to be closed by entry of liquid thereinto andopened upon discharge of the liquid, comprising an upstanding, hollowbody, a

dielectric head on the body, an electrode depending from the dielectrichead into the body in spaced relation, a float valve in communicationwith the body below the lower end of the electrode, and the body havingliquid entry means therein intermediate the ends of the electrode.

9. A contactor adapted to be closed by entry of liquid thereinto andopened upon discharge of the liquid, comprising an upstanding, hollowbody, a dielectric head on the body, an electrode depending from thedielectric head into the body in spaced relation, a float valve incommunication with the body below the lower end of the electrode, andthe body having liquid entry means therein intermediate the ends of theelectrode; said liquid entry means being a circumferential row of portsin the body.

10. A contactor adapted to be closed by entry of liquid thereinto andopened upon discharge of the liquid, comprising an upstanding, hollowbody, a dielectric head on the body, an electrode depending from thedielectric head into the body, an electrode depending from thedielectric head into the body in spaced relation, a float valve incommunication with the body below the lower end of the electrode, andthe body having liquid entry means thereinintermediate the ends of theelectrode; said liquid entry means being a circumferential row of portsin the body, the latter having a, vent port above said row.

11. A contactor, as in claim 8, in which the body includes a bottom withwhich the float valve is connected, both the dielectric head with theelectrode, and the bottom with the float valve, being removable from thebody.

EDWARD L. BRAZIL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name .Date

2,110,313 Warrick Mar. 8, 1938 2,297,680 Alling Oct. 6, 1942 2,424,657Goodman July 29, 1947

